The nationally 11th-ranked Ferris State University men's ice
hockey team put an impressive 51 shots on net against Northern
Michigan this Saturday (Feb. 6) night in a FS Detroit Plus Central
Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) televised contest
but still suffered a 4-0 loss to the Wildcats at FSU's
Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

With the loss, Ferris State drops to 17-9-4 overall and 11-7-4-3
in the CCHA while Northern Michigan improved to 12-10-8 overall
with an 8-8-6-3 league record.

Goaltending was certainly a huge factor in the Northern
Michigan's victory as Wildcats' goaltender Brian
Stewart (10-8-7) registered 51 saves on the night, including
21 second-period stops and 17 saves in the third en route
to the number one star of the game recognition. Meanwhile,
his teammate Justin Florek was tabbed as the second star as a
result of tallying a pair of special teams goals both in the
first period.

Northern Michigan, despite being outshot 13-9 in the
opening frame, opened the game's scoring at 6:26 on a power-play
goal by Justin Florek. A shot by Greger Hanson hit off the
post to Florek who sneaked the puck under junior netminder
Pat Nagle's (Bloomfield) blocker. Florek
would strike again 3:13 later with a short-handed lamplighter
on a laser shot from the top of the left circle to give NMU a 2-0
lead after the first period.

Ferris State put forth 21 shots on Brian Stewart in the
second period but still was denied a score while the Wildcats' made
good on one of their four shots as Mark Olver produced a goal on a
back-handed shot at the bottom right circle which deflected off
Nagle's pads into the Bulldog net with 9:56
remaining in the stanza.

The Wildcats increased their lead to 4-0 at 4:43 into the third
period with Ray Kaunisto scoring for the visitors, who were outshot
17-8 in the final 20 minutes of play.

Ferris' Pat Nagle (8-7-1) concluded the evening
with 17 saves, which consisted of seven stops apiece in the first
and third periods along with three denials in the second period.

On the power play, Ferris State was unsuccessful in nine
opportunities while Northern Michigan made good on one of five
man-advantage chances.

The Bulldogs are on the road next weekend, Feb. 13-14, for a
two-game CCHA set versus the Lake Superior State Lakers in Sault
Ste. Marie, Mich. Both outings are slated for 7:05 p.m. (EST)
opening faceoffs at LSSU's Taffy Abel Arena.

Notes: Ferris State was held scoreless for
the fourth time this season . . . Pat Nagle's
17 saves for the contest represented a season low. The
FSU netminder backstopped 18 shots against Robert Morris
(10/24) and at Notre Dame (1/9) earlier this campaign . . .
The Bulldogs are 3-10-1 all-time in February matchups against
Northern Michigan to date, which includes a 1-6-1 home ledger
. . . Ferris State is 4-1-3 this season in televised contests . . .
FSU's 51 shots on goal was one shy of
matching a team game-best 52 shots in a 4-1 non-league
home triumph over Robert Morris
(10/24).